Delta’s Seattle expansion: How capitalism has failed us

Sunday’s front page article on Delta Air Lines’ expansion into Alaska Air’s territory was a very revealing lesson about the dirty underbelly of capitalism [“Delta has big plans for growing Sea-Tac hub,” Business / Technology, June 15].

Originally, Delta was a cooperative partner with Alaska Air, who delivered passengers to Delta’s expanding international routes from Seattle. Now, Delta wants to control the domestic feed to these routes at Alaska’s expense. Delta’s Chief Executive Richard Anderson was quoted as saying, “There is no drama. It’s just business. It’s a competitive marketplace.”

This is where capitalism fails us. Delta isn’t interested in delivering a better or more efficient product. It isn’t interested in the welfare of the thousands of Alaska Air employees who have been delivering an excellent product and contributing to our community for decades. The only things Delta wants is to increase its profits and its percentage of the market share of air travel from Seattle.

If Delta wins this air war, don’t expect the air fares to be competitive any longer or their services to be expanded. Alaska Air has earned and deserves our loyalty. I would encourage Seattle travelers to let Delta know that a better business plan is to play along with others instead of playing a bully.

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